Elevating, traversing, and sighting apparatus for field-guns.



No. 743.255. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM. 1 ELEVATING, TRAVERSING; AND SIGHTING APPARATUS POR FIELD GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1903.

No. 743,255. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM. I

BLEVATING, TRAVBRSING, AND SIGHTING APPARATUS FOR FIELD GUNS. APPLIQATION FILED mm: 1, 1903.

H0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T.'BUGK-HA M.

ELEVATING, TRAVBR SING, AND SIGHTING APPARATU FOR FIELD GUNS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SKEET 3,

"III/1111111111111 w if N I N I N ve/2501 a ezzzw "to provemen'ts Relating to the Elevating, Trav- 15 ing, traversing, and sighting apparatus or.

- 2o lugs for connection with the elevating-screw,

40 cal transverse section-taken through the 'ele-.-

5o scribed.

- Patented November 3, 1,903. I

ATENT Fries.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE- HOMAS .BUUKIIAM, or LONDON,

IYGLAND, ASSIGNQRS TO .\lIN.\"llCR, ENGLAND.

, ELEVATING,I TRAVERSING, AND SIGHTINIG APPARATUS'FOR FIELD-GUNS.

spncrmcncrxon forming part of Letters Past No. 743,255, datedNovernber 3.190s;

Application filed June l l903. Serial No. 159,61

To (all whom it 12mg concern: Be. it known that we, ARTHU'RI TREVOR -DAWSON, lieutenant of the RoyaliNavy, di-

rector and superintendent. of Ordnance Works, and GEORGE THoMAs. BUOKHAM, en- 1 'gineer, both subjects of the King of Great l-Eritain, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain'new and. useful Imersing, and Sighting Apparatus of Field.- Guns, of which the following is a speeifica-. 'tion. This invention has reference to the elevatfield-gun carriages or mountings, andis espe-- cially applicable to those in which, there'is a traversingbar or plate having at its forward."

, endtrun'nionS and atits other or rear end a socket beingprovi'ded between the said .trunnions for the reception'of the vertical pivot of the gun-cradle.

According to our present invention we so arrange the elevating and training gear and the sight as to allow for the simultaneous or the independent action of'the gun and sight, whereby the gun may berangedbya man on one side of the carriage and pointed by 3 a man onthe other side. p

I In orderthat our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carriedinto effect, we will describe the same more fully with. reference to the accompanying drawings, in which v Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations gt the elevating, traversingmnd sighting'appar'atiisl as-seen, respectively',';from the leftandright hand side'of the mounting. Fig. 3 is a vertivating and traversing gear. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough the ranging- "gea'r. Fig.1 '5-is a rear elevation of the sighting apparatus. 'Fig; 6 is a side elevation, and

5 Fig. 7a pl-an,',of'the.traversing bar. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the vertical pivot and the trunnions- ,ofi the traversing bar. Fig.9 is an elevationofia portionof the gear,

. paratusi. e.,-'for ranging the gun.

showing a catch arrangement hereinafter-fie Z- .(No model- Like letters of reference indicate similar parts mall the figures.

A is the gun, and B the cradle in which it I recoils.

C is the trail. e

D isthe traversing baror plate.

E is the sight-bar.

v F is the hand-wheel of the training-gear, G

the hand-wheel of the gear for simultaneously elevating thegun and sighting apparatus, and H the hand-wheel of the gear for, elevat' ing the gun independently of the sighting ap- The aforesaid hand-wheel'G is situated on the left-hand side 'ofzJthe gun and the ranging hand-wheel Hgon the rightdland side of the gun. The said hand-wheel F of the traininggear is also situated on the left-handv side of the gun, sov that the'elevating and traversing,

. of the gun for pointing can be effected frcm 7o the left-hand side, while the elevation of the gun independentlyof the sighting apparatus for ranging can be efiected from the righthand side -of the gun by the handvwheetH. Thefull elevation of the gun maybe obtained by the actuation-of the'ranging hand-wheel H, .and the actuation of the pointing hand-wheel gives the necessary elevation or depression required'tor the sight. The elevating-wheel G'is geared bybevl-wheels g g with a'shaft g',

"connected by bevel-gearing g with-a rotary 1 sleeve g mounted in an oscillatory bracket- G, having trunnions 'g f, supported inboarings g on. the trail. The said oscillatory bracketalso'hasa screw-nut g fixed thereto,

said nut engaging with the outer or lower onefofthefteiescopic screws 9 q". The inner or upper screw g'iispivotaily connected-by a cross-head g with a shaft f, carrying the vworm f,'said shaftalso engaging with lugs 0 d datjthe rear end of the traversing barD. The said shaft f is also provided with a toothed wheel f ,that gears with a corresponding toothed wheel f on a sh'aftf, carrying I the. trainiu g or traversing hand-wheel F. The 5 worm f gears with thetoothed'traversing rack or segment b, Figs. 1 and 2, which is adapted to slide on a segmental guide-piece d",r;forming-part of the traversing bar D.

i This guide-piecehas an elongated holel'd Figs. 6 and 7, through which the screw it of the ranging-gear extends, said screw engaging at its lower end with a screw-nut h, situated below the guide-piece (Z and connected with the said rack "or segment b bybolts b;

The said screw it is hollow and receivesa' core h, Fig. 4, whichhas lugs h at its upper end by which it is pivotally' connected with the gun-cradle by a hollow cross-bar h The lower end of the said core 72. has a nut h, by which the screw his kept in 'place without interfering with its revolution. The upper end of the screw: h has a bevel-wheel h", with which gears a bevel-pinion h mounted'on a shaft 72., extending through the hollow crossbar h an d carrying the ran gin g hand-wheel H Inconnection with the ranging-gear is a large graduated disk or indicator Lon which said rotary disk is a fixed pointer or index 1'),

Fig. 2, for facilitating the setting of the graduated disk to any particular grad uation thereof.

The traversing bar D has the socket d, Fig. 7, for the reception of the vertical pivot 11 of the gun-cradle, so as to enable the lateral reception of trunnions or an axle d, which .is carried by the pivot b movement or traversing of the cradle and gun to be effected. The said traversing bar also has the trunnions cl d, by which it is supported in the trail 0 for enabling it and the gun to beelevated or depressed by the actuation of the handwheel G. In order to allow the cradle and gun to .be elevated or depressedv with respect to the traversing bar D when the hand-wheel H is actuated'for ranging, the said socket .d has recesses for the By putting the axis ofthe trunnions or axle d at a slight angle with-respect to that of the trunniorfs of the traversing bar, as represented in Fig. 8, we are able to give the usual permanent drift allowance to the gun, which varies in proportion to the degree of elevation given thereto.

The sighting apparatus comprises two rods E E, one arranged above the other, the upper one, E, being capableof lateral adjustment with regard to the lower one by means of a pivotal connection e. .'On this upper bar are arranged the fore and rear sights. By imparting to the upper bar aslight traverse with respect to the lower one-.11. e., with respect to the gun-allowance for drift, 850., can be made. This movement may be effected in the ordinary well-known manner by a horizontal screw and a small milled-head e. The said bar .E is supported near its rear by a bracket 2 extending from the traversing segmental rack b, and at its forward end it is pivotally connected at e to a bracket or arm a, carried by the training-pivot ofthe. guncradle. The pivots e and e are provided with eccentric adjusting-bushes for accurately adjusting the line of sight, so that when the gun is at the horizontal position the line of sight shall be absolutely parallel to the axis of the gun.

From the arrangement hereinbefore described it will be seen that if the left-hand elevating-wheel G and training-wheel F are actuated the gun may be pointed without in any way interfering with the right-hand or ranging gear, and if the right-hand wheel H isj'actuated the .gun may be given elevation suitable for the required range without interfering in any way with the sight which may have already been laid on the object by the left-hand gear. When the training-hand wheel F is in operation, the elevating-gear controlled by the hand-wheel G is not in any way interfered with; but the ranging-gear and sight are caused to traverse with the gun. We may use an arrangement for holding the traversing, elevating, and ranging handwheels in position when the gun is traveling or whenever it is desired to lock the bandwheels. An arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 9,which consists of a springcatch J, pivoted atj to a suitable bracketj, through which the shaft of the hand-wheel passes, said catch being adapted to engage with notches j formed in the boss of the hand-wheel or its shaft, thus locking it to the bracket.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent' of the United States, is-

1. In a field-gun carriage, the combination I do with the gun cradle, the sight-bar and the traversing bar, of trunnions on said traversing bar connecting it with the trail, vertical and transverse pivots on the cradle supported 'by the traversing bar, means for turning said cradle about either of its said pivots and means for turning said traversing bar about its trunnions, substantially as and .for the purpose specified. Y

2. In a field-gun carriage, the combination with the gun-cradle, of a traversing bar carried bythe trail and adapted to turn about a horizontal axis, means for connecting the cradle to said traversing bar to permit of its turning about a vertical axis and also abouta horizontal or approximately horizontal axis, a sight-bar pivotally connected with the eradle-pivot, a transversely-sliding piece carried by the traversing bar, means for supporting the rear part of the sight-bar on the transversely-sliding piece, means for adjustably supporting the rear part of the cradle from the saidtransversely-slidin g pieceand means for adjustably supporting the rear part of the traversing bar on the trail,whereby the simultaneous orindependent action of the gunand sight can be efiected, substantially as described.

3. In a field-gun carriage, the combination with the gun-cradle, of a traversing-bar trunnioned in'the trail, a vertical pivot on said cradle fitting a socket at the forward part of the traversing bar, a transverse axle carried bythe cradle-pivot-,a sight=bar connected with the aforesaid cradle-pivot, means for laterally shifting the gun cradle and sight bar about said vertical pivot for traversing the gun, means operative from one side of the.

gun for shifting the traversing bar about its trunnions for simultaneously elevating the gun and sight-bar, and means operative-from the opposite side of the gun for shifting the gun cradle about the aforesaid transverse axle, independently of the sight-bar, for ranging the gun, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 1

4.- In a field-gun carriage, the combination with the gun-cradle, of a traversing bar tru nnioned in .the trail, a vertical pivot on said cradle fitting a socket at the forward part of the traversing bar, a transverse axle carried by the cradle-pivot and supported in said traversing bar at an angle with respect to the axis of the trunnions for giving the permanent drift allowance to the gun, a sight-bar connected with the aforesaid cradle -pivot, means for laterally shifting the gun-cradle and sight-bar about said vertical pivot for traversing the gun, means operative from one side of the gun for shifting the traversing bar about its trunnions for simultaneously elevating the gun and sight-bar, and means operative from the opposite side of the gun for shifting the gun-cradle about the aforesaid transverse axle independently of the traversing bar, for ranging the gun, ,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a field-gun carriage, the combination with the gun-cradle, of a traversing bar trunnioned in the trail, avertical pivot on said cradle fitting a socket at the forward part of the traversing bar, a transverse axle carried by said cradle-pivot, a sight-bar connected with the cradle-pivot, a segmental guide-piece on the traversing bar, a toothed segment adapted to slide on said guide-piece and carrying the ranging-gear and the rear support for the sight-bar, a worm gearing with saidtoothed v segment and carried by the traversing bar, means independent of the ranging g'ear for actuating said worm, and means for shifting the traversing bar about its trunnions substantially as described.

In a field-gun carriage, the combination withthe-gumcradle, of a traversing bar trunnioned at-its forward part in the trail, a ver- "tical pivot on saidcradle fitting a socket in the traversing bar at a point between thesaid trunnions, a transverse axle carried by said with said nut and pivotally connected at its upper-end with the cradle, means for supporting the rear part of the sight-bar from said toothed segment, means for actuating said screw, a range-indicator means for operating said indicator simultaneously with the operation of the said screw, and means independent of said screw for shifting the traversing bar about its trunnions substantially as described.

7. In a field-gun carriage, the combination with the gun-cradle, of a traversing bar trunnionedat its .forward part in. the trail, a vertical pivot on said cradle fitting a socket in the traversing bar at a point between the said trunnions, a transverse axle carried by'said cradle-pivot and supported at an angle with respect to the axis of the trunnions, a sight-.

bar pivotally connected with the cradle-pivot,- a segmental guide-piece on the traversing bar, a toothed segment adapted to slide on said guide-piece,a worm engaging with the toothed segment and carried by the traversing bar, means for actuating the worm, a screw-nut on the toothed segment, afsc'rew engaging with said nut and pivotally connected at its upper end with the cradle, a bracket on thetoothed segment for supporting the rear part of the sight-bar, means for actuating said screw, a graduated range indicating dial, means for operating said dial simultaneously with the operation of said screw, telescopic elevating-screws one of which is connected with the aforesaid traversing bar and the other with an oscillatory nut carried by the trail, and means for actuating said telescopic elevating-screws substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 21st day of May, 1903.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM. Witnesses:

O. A. SEARLE, HENRY KING. 

